Topeka ? Amending the Kansas Constitution to ban gay marriage could be bad for business, opponents of the proposal told a Senate committee Wednesday.

The proposed amendment was approved by the House earlier this month. Approval by two-thirds of the Senate would place it on the Nov. 2 ballot.

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the amendment, which states that Kansas recognizes marriage only between one man and one woman and does not extend the rights and benefits of marriage to any other relationship.

Opponents have argued previously that the amendment was discriminatory and unnecessary, given that Kansas already has a statute defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

A new argument was offered during Wednesday’s committee hearing — that changing the Kansas Constitution would hurt economic development.

“It sends a message to companies that companies with gay and lesbian employees are not welcome in the state of Kansas,” said Bruce Ney, a Lawrence attorney.

And Sandra Stenzel, economic development director in WaKeeney, said, “Don’t make my job any harder” by adopting the proposed amendment.

“What drew me to western Kansas was the freedom to be who I am,” she said.

Proponents testified that the amendment would protect marriage as an institution and that traditional families are crucial to a stable society.

The Rev. Pat Bullock, of Wichita, missions director for the Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association, called homosexuality unnatural.

“The very fabric of American society is threatened by this abnormal behavior,” Bullock told the committee.

Gay marriage ban is HCR 5033.

On the Net:

Kansas Legislature: http://www.kslegislature.org